Malaysia PM furious with way MH17 bodies treated

By P. Prem Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia's prime minister has filed a special resolution to condemn the attack on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, in the process lashing out at unnamed persons for treating the bodies of the 298 who died with disrespect.

 After a minute's silence was observed at the start of an emergency Parliament session Wednesday, Najib Razak said he was deeply upset when he found out the crash site of the plane - believed to have been shot down by a pro-Russia rebel group over Eastern Ukraine - had not been declared a prohibited area, and international standards were not adhered to in ensuring evidence and the plane's black boxes were not contaminated or tampered.

In tabling a special resolution to condemn the "attack," Razak - clad in a dark suit and a purple tie - said he was equally angry that the delay in handling the tragedy had resulted in failure to give due respect to the remains of the victims.

"To the families of MH17, do not worry. We will not stop looking for the truth as long as the answers were not found. No matter how hard it is, we will demand for justice and return it to the families of the victims," he said.

Although the premier did not name any specific parties for the inactive actions, it was understood that he was referring to the pro-Russia rebel group, which controls the Donetsk region in Ukraine, where the crash happened.

The prime minister said an impartial international team is needed to quickly ask several questions which rose following the "shooting down.

“Was it shot by a guided missile? Who is responsible, who supplied the weapon and what were their motives? Was the shooting planned with the aim to bring down a commercial airline or was it an accidental mistake?" he asked parliament.

"All these need clear and strong evidence. And all this can only be answered by the impartial investigation team."

Razak said he had instructed Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail to look into the matter "closely," to ensure any future action taken is in line with the international laws. The government had instructed Patail to look into possible lawsuits against those responsible, upon completion of the investigation.

He again called for any investigation to be led by an international independent body, contradicting International Civil Aviation Organization rules that Ukraine must lead the investigation as the crash happened in its territory - a request that the rebel group may support as they are currently battling the Ukraine government for Donetsk, in the process renaming it the Donetsk People’s Republic.

Outside of the those present for the emergency session, some 300 Malaysians waited at the entrance of Parliament to greet Razak, many of them clad in black t-shirts bearing the words "Justice for MH17." 

www.aa.com.tr/en